The New York Yankees announced today the acquisition of right-handed pitcher Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson from the Cincinnati Reds. In exchange, the Yankees sent catcher Jose Trevino to Cincinnati.
Fernando Cruz’s Performance Highlights
The 34-year-old Fernando Cruz comes to the Yankees after a productive 2024 season with the Reds, where he recorded a 3-8 win-loss record and a 4.86 ERA across 66.2 innings pitched. Notably, Cruz struck out 109 batters, allowing just 54 hits and nine home runs. His strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio of 14.72 was the highest in Major League Baseball among pitchers with at least 50 innings, and his 37.8% strikeout rate ranked third in the league.
As a reliever, Cruz’s 95 strikeouts were the third-most in the National League and tied for the 10th-most in MLB. Over his three-season career (2022-24), all with the Reds, Cruz has compiled a 4-11 record with a 4.52 ERA across 147.1 innings. He has been especially effective against right-handed hitters, limiting them to a .187 batting average. Since 2023, Cruz’s 185 strikeouts as a reliever rank fifth in the Majors, trailing top relievers like Bryan Abreu, Aroldis Chapman, Josh Hader, and Tanner Scott.
Originally from Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Cruz began his professional career when the Kansas City Royals drafted him in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB Draft. After a long journey that included stints in Minor League Baseball, Cruz joined the Reds in January 2022.
Alex Jackson’s Role and Career Overview
Catcher Alex Jackson, 28, also joins the Yankees as part of the deal. In 2024, Jackson played in 58 games for the Tampa Bay Rays, batting .122 with three home runs, seven doubles, and 12 RBIs. Despite a low batting average, Jackson demonstrated defensive value by throwing out 28.2% of base-stealers (11 of 39 attempts).
In addition to his Major League performance, Jackson played 28 games for the Rays’ Triple-A affiliate in Durham, where he batted .238 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs. Over parts of five MLB seasons with the Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay, Jackson has hit .132 in 124 games.
Jackson, a native of San Diego, California, was the sixth overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners. The Reds signed him as a Minor League free agent in November 2024 before trading him to the Yankees.
Jose Trevino’s Contributions to the Yankees
In exchange, the Yankees sent veteran catcher Jose Trevino to the Reds. Trevino, 32, batted .215 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs in 74 games for the Yankees in 2024. Across his seven-year MLB career, which includes stints with the Texas Rangers (2018-21) and the Yankees (2022-24), Trevino has posted a .236 batting average in 400 games.
Trevino, known for his defensive skills and game-calling abilities, joined the Yankees in 2022 in a trade with the Rangers. A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, he was originally drafted in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of Oral Roberts University.
Looking Ahead
This trade reflects the Yankees’ ongoing efforts to strengthen their pitching depth and defensive options behind the plate. Cruz’s strikeout capabilities and Jackson’s potential as a backup catcher could prove valuable for the Yankees’ roster in the 2025 season. Meanwhile, the Reds gain a reliable and experienced catcher in Trevino, addressing their need for stability behind the plate.
